Volume 4, Issue 11, November – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
To Estimate the Prevalence of Work Related
Musculoskeletal Morbidity amongst Tailors: A Cross
Sectional Study in a Rural Area of Tamilnadu
Principal Investigator: A. Ravisankar , IIIrd Year
Co-Investigator: Dr. Ruma Dutta , Department of Community Medicine
Abstract:-
 Introduction:
This study has been conducted to assess the
prevalence and factors associated with musculoskeletal
morbidity amongst the workers involved in the tailoring
occupation
 Aim &Objectives:
1.To assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal morbidity
amongst tailor in a rural area of Tamil Nadu.
2.To assess their ergonomical factors in the workplace.
 Materials and Methods:
A Cross sectional study was conducted in a rural
area of Tamil Nadu over a period of 3 months from
March to May 2019. The sampling frame comprised of
tailors in a rural area of TamilNadu. A total of 50
subjects who were willing to participate in the study
were interviewed (p=66%). The sampling method was
simple random sampling and the data collection tool was
a questionnaire and the data collection technique was the
interview method. Data entered in excel sheet and
exported to SPSS for windows , version 16.0 software for
analysis
 Results:
In this study, 50 questionnaires were returned by
the individuals involved in the tailoring occupation in
Chennai. The prevalence of the various musculoskeletal
morbidity risk factors in tailors were found to be
significant. Working hours has been found to cause
trouble in the last 12 months in 26% individuals who
work more than 8-10 hours per day, chair without
backrest has caused trouble which hasn't allowed a
person to do work in the past 12 months in 28%
individuals, and unsatisfactory workstation ergonomics
has caused trouble in the past 12 months in 34%
individuals, apart from others. Musculoskeletal
morbidites were found in individuals 52% , and is found
to have a significant relationship with being a tailor.
 Conclusion:
To recommend suitable ergonomical alternatives
and reduce associated musculoskeletal morbidities
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I. INTRODUCTION
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) consist of a
conditions affecting the muscles, tendons, joints , ligaments
associated nerves and blood vessels. Work related MSDs
usually occur when the person can’t cope with the work as
they don’t have the physical competence or due to improper
workstation ergonomics. Work related musculoskeletal
disorders have been known to affect workers in a wide
variety of occupations eg. Tailors[1] . These musculoskeletal
disorders are a major causes of pain and disability. The
global prevalence of MSDs ranges from 14% to as high as
42%; on the other hand in India, epidemiological studies
indicate the community-based prevalence of 20% and
occupation-specific prevalence found to be as around 90%
in various studies, heavy lifting , twisting and bending ,
Repeating an action too frequently , Uncomfortable working
position , Exerting too much force during work, Working
too long without rest[2] ,Adverse work environment (eg hot
or cold) ,Psychosocial factors (eg high job demands, lack of
contro land time pressures) , not acting on reports of
symptoms quickly enough
Indian textile industries are one of the largest industries
in India. It is the second largest industry in terms of
providing employment to more than 35 million people in the
country. Many of the people in the textile industry are at risk
of developing some kind of work related disease due to long
working hours and low pay etc. Tailoring involves repetitive
tasks like , assembly , cutting, sewing
,embroidery,alterations, pressing and finishing work,
performed in a sitting working posture with back curved and
head and neck bent over the sewing machine. Working in
this awkward posture for a long duration increases the
chance of developing musculoskeletal disorders in them. It
provides employment for both men and women, who are
majorly from the lower socioeconomic classes.
The present study was conducted to explore the
prevalence of musculoskeletal morbidities amongst tailors in
a rural area of Tamil Nadu and the relation is has with
certain risk factors their ergonomical factors in the
workplace such as good lighting , properly tilted tables and
proper backrest. The three primary ergonomic risk factors
are high task repetition , forceful exertions and repetitive
and awkward postures
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II. Methodology
This is a cross sectional study which was conducted in
a rural area of Tamil Nadu over a period of 3 months from
March to May 2019. The sampling frame comprised of
tailors in a rural area of Tamil Nadu. A total of 50 subjects
who were willing to participate in the study were
interviewed (p=66%) . The sampling method was
convenience sampling
Data collection: and the data collection tool was a
questionnaire whcih was divided into 3 parts , Part A was
about the sociodemographic details , Part B was about the
ergonomic factors in the workplace , Part C was about the
trouble that was caused due to the musculoskeletal
morbidity and the data collection technique was the
interview method by which i conveniently selected tailors
for my study and interviewed them after obtaining
neccessary consent
 Analysis :
Data entered in excel sheet and exported to SPSS for
windows , version 16.0 software for analysis
III. Results
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
12 months was found to be 78%. The most commonly
affected site was neck (36%) and lower back (40%),
hand/arms (12%), knees (12%) etc. Out of the total 50
workers having MSD, 21 persons (42%) complained of
discomfort for the last 7 days. 58% of people who
complained of discomfort did not have any trouble in the
past 7 days before the interview
Out of the 50 people interviewed , 22 people did not
have backrests (44%) while 28 people did have backrests
(56%), 14 people who did not have backrests were
prevented from doing there work due to musculoskeletal
morbidity (63.63%)
When the table was not tilted towards the worker there
was an increase in the discomfort which prevented the tailor
from working over the past year 43.33% of them had an
increased risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder
Out of the 50 people interviewed , 35 of them (70%)
were males and 15 of them were females (30%) , 13 males
were prevented from working in the past 12 months due to
the pain (37.14%) , while 7 females were prevented from
working in the past 12 months due to pain (46%) , so , MSD
were more common among females as compared to males

A total of 50 workers participated in the study.

Majority of the workers were between ages 40 to 49 (42%)
and belonged to class II socio economic class (74%) Among
the workers, 20% were illiterate and 34% studied till middle
school , 36% studied till high school and only 10% of them
graduated and got a degree. Musculoskeletal problem in last
Musculoskeletal disorders were more common among
those who were of the age 30 - 59 and 96% of these people
were prevented from doing there work due to due to the pain
that they had

Frequency Percentage
Age 20-29 1 2.0
30-39 17 34.0
40-49 21 42.0
50-59 10 20.0
60-69 1 2.0
Total 50 100.0
Education illiterate 10 20.0
middle school 17 34.0
high school 18 36.0
graduate 5 10.0
Total 50 100.0
Male 35 70.0
Gender Female 15 30.0
Total 50 100.0
nuclear 29 58.0
Type of Family joint 21 42.0
Total 50 100.0
Lower middle class 13 26.0
Socioeconomic Upper middle class 37 74.0
Status Total 50 100.0
Table 1 – Sociodemographic variables

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Volume 4, Issue 11, November – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Frequency Percentage
Years of working
<10 years 1 2.0
>10 years 17 34.0
Total 21 42.0
Timing Of Job part time 4 8.0
full time 46 92.0
Total 50 100.0
5 4 8.0
Working hours per 6 4 8.0
day 7 7 14.0
8 5 10.0
9 7 14.0
10 11 22.0
11 12 24.0
Total 50 100.0
Table 2 – Working Nature

Frequency Percentage

Chairs with/without
backrest with backrest 28 56.0
without backrest 22 44.0
Total 50 100.0

Lighting
with lighting 35 70.0
without lighting 15 30.0
Total 50 100.0

Table tilted towards tilted 4 8.0

worker not tilted 4 8.0
Total 7 14.0

Workstation satisfied 27 54.0

Ergonomics
not satisfied 23 46.0
Total 50 100.0
Table 3 – Facility at work

Frequency Percentage

In the last 12 months yes 20 40.0

have you been no 30 60.0
prevented from
Total 50 100.0
doing your work

Trouble in the last 7

yes 21 42.0
days
no 29 58.0
Total 50 100.0

Table 4 – Trouble in the past

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Volume 4, Issue 11, November – 2019
IV. DISCUSSION
The textile industry is the largest manufacturing sector
in India, So adequate importance should be given to the
health of the tailors and people employed in this sector,
which is one of the pillars of this sector. Health risks that the
tailors face increases over time due to many factors such as
number of years of working, number of working hours and
ergonomic factors.In this study, the prevalence of MSD
among the tailors was reported to be significant , most
common site being the neck and lower back[4,6], then knees
and hands/arms. Apart from age, sex and duration in the
profession, MSD was associated with age , sex , number of
hours of working in a day . Long hours of bending down
with neck flexed and continuous eye straining due to
inadequate lighting of the workplace probably explains the
high prevalence of neck involvement among the studied
workers.
Tailors of the lower socioeconomic classes was
associated with elevated risk of musculoskeletal disorders as
, these people were more likely to have a small work space ,
increased years of working, unsatisfactory lighting and
seating arrangement in combination with increased working
hours [4]
This study revealed age over 45 years and duration of
work for more than 8 hours per day were significantly
associated with increased Musculoskeletal disorder The
development of such disorders in people was caused due to
a combination of poor work environment and unsatisfactory
ergonomic conditions such as lighting and seating of the
tailors in the place of working for extended periods of time
throughout the day consistently
In our study, it was found that women were suffering
from Musculoskeletal disorders more than men [7,8] , gender
had a strong relationship with Musculoskeletal pains of the
neck and the back related to the spine which could be due to
gender related biological differences e.g. muscle strength
and distribution, and increased incidence of osteoporosis
after menopause. This has been attributed to physiological
structure and regarding their monthly menstrual periods and
menopause causing porosity and weakness of the skeletal
system
In our study, majority of the women workers had to
perform their household activities in addition to their work,
so that involved less time to take rest, and to attend to
personal health issues, which might have made them more
susceptible to MSD than the male tailors.
Workstation ergonomics, as revealed by our study was
significantly associated with MSD [9,10] . In a day, tailors
work for multiple hours, if they do not have proper backrest
on the chair, over the years, it will definitely lead to back
pain over time . The inadequate lighting also plays a roll in
it. Prolonged sitting and standing while cutting/ironing were
reported by the participants. Sitting these chairs for long or
standing to work with it may pose a strain on the which they
had to do throughout the work day, which could have been
IJISRT19NOV280 www.ijisrt.com
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
responsible for the development of pain in the neck, back,
shoulders, the arms and knees. As a result of excessive
bending, majority of them complained of pain in the lower
back, the neck and knees. The chairs used by the majority of
the operators were not cushioned for their comfort when
seated for long hours. The tailors must be made aware of
these things. It has been reported that garment workers may
experience a decline in neck/shoulder pain if they are
provided with adjustable height chairs with proper backrest
or cushioning.
V. CONCLUSION
This study talks about the prevalence of
musculoskeletal morbidities amongst tailors and the factors
associated with the development of these disorders and the
associated ergonomic factors This should be corrected early
or else over time , these will add-on to further disability . All
of these can also affect their earning power, Thus leading to
a cycle of them not being able to work ,and earn money, and
eat proper food which is necessary for staying fit and
healthy. Intervention at the work place like providing the
workers improved workstations with regards to lighting and
the seating combined with ergonomic advising the tailors to
take regular breaks , walk around and stretch and do certain
exercises that have been instructed /or change position in
between their working hours, and task rotation through tasks
that do not require constant pressure and awkward leg and
neck posture would defeinitely help in reducing the
incidence of MSD among them.
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ISSN No:-2456-2165
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